Radical Reformers C1790-1819

Question 1

When was the outbreak of the French Revolution?

Answer 1

1789

Question 2

What was the effect of the French Revolution on the radical movement?

Answer 2

Revolutionary ideas spread rapidly through Europe.

‘Liberte, egalite & fraternite’

Spiked interest in reform-parliamentary reform

Inspired radical change

Proved political reform was possible

Authorities feared GB revolution

Question 3

What was the London Corresponding Society (LCS) and when was it formed and who by?

Answer 3

1792-93
Founded by Thomas Hardy
(Influenced by SCI and John Cartwright)

Group promoting universal suffrage and annual parliaments

Supported by skilled craftsmen

Available to all classes-low subscription fee

Question 4

What methods did the LCS use?

Answer 4

Pamphlets promoting LCS views educating members politically

Peaceful methods

Petitions rather than gatherings

Question 5

What happened to the LCS?

Answer 5

Gov spies infiltrated worried about militancy-although none (gov feared revolution after French)
LCS leaders put on trial

Faced backlash from conservative groups and other radical organisations-disloyal to king and country

Gov introduced Association movement to promotes patriotic propaganda and action against reformers

Question 6

When was spa fields and who was involved?

Answer 6

Nov 1816

Henry hunt radical leader and speaker

Question 7

What happened in spa fields?

Answer 7

Hunt spoke at spa fields e. London

Crowd of 10,000 largest gathering

Petition to prince reagent for reform

Moral force (suggested physical if reforms not met)

Second meeting-Dec
More direct action-looting
Constables dispersed and arrested rioters
Gov spies informed gov on actions of reformers

Question 8

At this point what was clear about the gov and the radical movement?

Answer 8

Gov determined to destroy radical activity-Napoleonic war decreased activity in early 1800s

Extreme radical groups divided on aims and methods

Moderate reform groups of MC saw increased support

At spa fields divisions of peaceful and direct action made unification difficult

Question 9

When was the Pentridge rising who was involved?

Answer 9

1817

Oliver (gov spy)

Question 10

What was the plan for pentridge?

Answer 10

300 men went to Nottingham to seize the city

Plans for insurrection

Question 11

What happened in the pentridge uprising?

Answer 11

Rising intercepted by authorities-notified by Oliver spy

80 arrested
14 killed

Question 12

When was Peterloo and who was involved?

Answer 12

1819
Hunt spoke
Crowd of 80,000

Question 13

What were the crowd campaigning for in peterloo?

Answer 13

Mass meetings and demands for p reform

Universal suffrage and annual parliaments

Question 14

How did the gov react to peterloo?

Answer 14

Authorities called yeomanry to arrest Hunt

Stones thrown at troops responded by trampling crowd

11 dead
500+ injured women and children included

Question 15

What was the impact of peterloo?

Answer 15

Provoked widespread national revulsion to gov

Led to several rioting outbreaks

Rise in political unions

Question 16

What was the gov response to radicals after 1819?

Answer 16

• voluntary yeomanry and local magistrates to maintain order in towns and cities
• larger spy networks infiltrate radical organisations-enables preemptive action eg pentridge
• patriotic and national movements with propaganda-make radical protests hard to achieve
• six acts

Question 17

What was the extent of radical success by 1819?

Answer 17

• national debate of reform form French rev continued by radicals
• use of pamphlets books and press increased education literacy and influence
• more access to newspapers, cheaper and more in circulation 14 mil by 1785
• early reform groups LCS (skilled wc) and SCI (MC support)little wc or agricultural attraction
• reform programmes developed 1812-Hamden clubs in north,post war more northern radicals

Question 18

What were the failures of radicalism by 1819?

Answer 18

No clear leadership

• Cobbett-moral
• Hunt

Split in force-moral v physical

Times of Economic stability-reduced radicalism

Some wanted p reform others wanted revolution

Question 19

What was the gov response to protests?

Answer 19

Trial of LCS leaders 1792

• gov arrested and LCS and SCI members at meeting on Edinburgh
• regrouped 1794 and put on trial for treason
• no convictions

-failure of treason trials caused amendment of treason law-strengthen power against radicalism

Suspension of Habeas Corpus 1793-prompted by Pitt

Question 20

What was the national situation in 1795?

Answer 20

1795 war-unrest increased tax

Increased unemployment in industrial towns dislocated trade due to war

Poor harvests and increased food prices

Question 21

What was the treason act and when was it passed?

Answer 21

1795

Made it an offence to kill harm or intimidate HoC HoL
-anyone calling for p reform was charged with treason

Question 22

What was the seditious meetings act and when was it passed?

Answer 22

1795

Restricted size of public meetings to 50 people unless approved by gov in advance

Question 23

What were the effects of the treason and seditious meetings acts?

Answer 23

Reduced radical activity

Increased patriotism due to war-also decreased radicalism

Radicals either silenced or abroad

Question 24

What were the gagging acts and when were they passed?

Who were they passed by?

Answer 24

Liverpool’s gov

Habeas corpus suspended 1793
Treason act 1795 (made permanent)
Seditious meetings act 1795-expanded gov could disperse any public meeting

Question 25

What were the six acts in response to?

Answer 25

Peterloo massacre

1819

Question 26

What were the six acts?

Answer 26

1-unlawful drilling act
2-seizure of arms act
3-misdemeanours act 
4-seditious meetings prevention
5-criminal libel act
6-news and stamp duty act

Question 27

What were the impacts of the six acts 1819?

Answer 27

Had desired effect of reduced radicalism

Acts were condemned for repressive policies

Gobs way to maintain order with few weapons at disposal

Question 28

Who formed the Hampden club and when?

Answer 28

1812

John cartwright

Question 29

Who was the Hampden club aimed at?

Answer 29

High annual subscription 2 Guineas-limited membership to MC and aristocrats

Question 30

What did the Hampden clubs do?

Answer 30

Toured industrial towns in north and midlands saw widespread poverty and poor living conditions in cotton towns due to cotton famine-Cartwright believed only p reform would fix this

Caused membership to H clubs to expand to all only 1p subscription

Filled gap of LCS disbanded in 1794 outlawed 1799
Agreed on universal suffrage

Authorities made arrests not convinced of peaceful intentions-after acts H clubs not act effectively after 1817

Question 31

What was Cobbett famous for?

Answer 31

After not elected in 1806 election cobbett saw corruption and promoted p reform

1809 published articles against some gov actions

1816 reached wider audience

• political register 1s so unattainable to wc
• so released single sheet costing 2p
• 1st edition by end of 1817 200,000 copies printed and circulated

Question 32

What was the role of hunt?

Answer 32

1816 forefront of radical public meetings
Great orator
-many speeches opposing property taxes and corn laws 1815
1819 peterloo-meant to be peaceful and tightly organised
-urged meeting to refuse pay taxes and secure p reform by numerical force
-charged with seditious conspiracy and jailed for two years 1820

Question 33

What credit should be given to radical leaders?

Answer 33

Cobbett
-articulate effectively wc grievances and aspirations through print

Hunt

• champion of people and their interests
• nationally popular
• advocacy for uni suffrage inspired wc-vital factor in sustaining radicalism in 1st half of c19th